So on December 29, 2016, after the River Derwent had let just three boats home (Perpetual Loyal, Giacomo and Scallywag, all inside the old race record, she went to sleep for a lot of the day. This made it frustrating for the sailors, some of whom saw the lighter side. So after seeing some of those in Dark & Stormy, here are more examples of merriment on the airwaves between the boats and Hobart Race Control (HRC).

HRC – ‘Dekadence, HRC, go ahead please’
Dekadence – ‘Yeah. Can I just confirm that ETA, was it 1655 I said or did I get my digits mixed up?’
HRC – ‘You said 1455, should it be 16, over?’
Dekadence – ‘Yes, Yes, I think so.’
HRC – ‘That would be more realistic. You wouldn’t have to go at warp speed then, over.’
Dekadence – ‘Very complicated this 24hr time stuff.’

HRC – ‘Duende I have you inside the Iron Pot at 1256, with an ETA of 1415 and tell (Tony) Cable he's late too…’
Duende not with it at all – ‘Say again all after ETA 1415, over’
HRC – ‘I was just having a shot at your mate ‘Clark’ (Gable as in Tony Cable on his 51st Hobart), I was just saying he’s late, over’
Duende now on the bus – ‘Roger’

Ichi Ban – ‘HRC here is Ichi Ban on 81, over’
HRC – ‘Ichi Ban this HRC, over’
Ichi Ban with a smile - ‘We’d like to order a different forecast please’
HRC completely unawares – ‘For what particular area please?
Ichi Ban - ‘We’ve just entered the Derwent and our ETA is about four hours from the Pot, over’

Imagination – ‘HRC this is Imagination, over’
HRC – ‘Imagination this is HRC, go ahead’
Imagination – ‘HRC, Imagination has Tasman Island bearing 000 at 1155, with an ETA of finishing at 1800, over’
HRC – ‘Thanks Imagination, I got you due South of Tasman at 1155hrs, with an ETA of 1800. Don't be so hard on yourself!!!’

M3 - ‘HRC, this is M3, over’
HRC - ‘M3, this is HRC, go ahead’
M3 - ‘We’re just abeam of Iron Pot, entering the river, over’
HRC - ‘M3 we have you the Iron Pot, would you like to hazard a guess at your arrival time’
M3, sounding totally deflated with a huge sigh – ‘Not particularly, but based on the last couple of hours I would say in the order of 0500, over.’
HRC ‘Thanks M3, we’ll log you as 0500 ETA, over’

HRC – ‘Go ahead Pazzaz’
Springday Pazzaz – ‘I’d like to amend my ETA. I did not add up properly. 1415 not 1 3 1 5.’
HRC with full humour – ‘That sounds a bit more reasonable Pazzaz. We were hoping that we’d see you planing up the Derwent at a great rate of knots, mate. This is HRC standing by.’

N.B. And a reminder to all - Never start the donk until all the lines are in!!!!!!
Ark323 – ‘Our boat has got some problems with the engine. There are some ropes around our propeller and the rudder.’
Hobart Finish Line - ‘I’ll get one of the rescue boats to come out to you, over’
Ark323 – ‘Roger that – thank you!’

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